The 3 months of truce as far as carnivorous fishing in France is very often the occasion to take stock of the season, to maintain your equipment but also to have time to think about your desires for the next season. Buying a new boat is a choice that can easily emerge during this period. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you my feedback on my different boats so that you can find help, advice or inspiration. I start with my faithful red boat: the Rigiflex CAP 360!
A very light hull..
Measuring 3.60 m and weighing only 120 kg and up to 30 hp on its transom, the Rigiflex CAP 360 has a very interesting power-to-weight ratio. Without particularly looking for speed, what is essential when there are 2 fishermen on board in addition to the equipment on board, is that the boat can be easily hauled out of the water. With a 20 hp engine (2 strokes, I specify because the 2 stroke is more nervous and powerful than a 4 tps engine of equivalent capacity), the boat has no problem to get out of the water in these conditions.
In terms of speed, it exceeds 40 km/h when I am alone on board with my equipment. I don't pay any attention to it, but it gives you an idea.
Last point concerning the motorization: a 55 lbs front electric motor will easily tow this boat with 2 fishermen and all the equipment.
Also, its lightness allows more or less rough launching or at least, does not necessarily require the presence of comfortable launching wedges. A hard ground, a gentle slope and the CAP 360 is in the water!
...bluffing stability..
A characteristic that makes the reputation of this hull is its extreme stability. The Rigiflex CAP 360 has above all been designed as a safety boat (sailing schools, first aid, etc), stability is therefore a point on which the emphasis has been placed. I have already done the test of standing on the outside of the bow on the ledge formed by the hull and making a pendulum movement. The stability of the boat is still impressive. Although I've already let water in through the bow into the lake in some pretty rough wind conditions, I've never felt in danger. And as far as river navigation is concerned, when prospecting the banks, keep an eye on the barges so as not to be surprised by the waves they generate, but under no circumstances would you risk seeing your boat roll over like a walnut hull?
...Robust..
The high density polyethylene hull (dyed in the mass and treated against UVs) offers the double advantage of being both light, as we have just seen, but also very robust! Not only is maintenance very limited compared to a riveted aluminium hull for example, but its impact resistance is more important than a fibre hull in particular. Just like the repairs that could result from it are much easier to carry out.
... and economic
All these characteristics logically contribute to the economic character of this boat since it is light, and therefore does not require 50L of fuel per output, and robust, therefore requiring little maintenance. As a reference, a day trip on the river will cost me between 10 and 15 euros of fuel, which remains very reasonable when it comes to boat fishing.
I remember I didn't want to install a bow motor on my boat right away because I was more expensive with an electric bow motor than with a hull + trailer! This hull can easily be upgraded with high performance electronics over time (depth sounder, bow motor) and make the CAP 360 a little performance beast!
Finally, and we certainly enter the subjective, without being particularly racy, the Rigiflex CAP 360 can boast a line giving it the air of a mini bassboat on the water! A plus which comes to perfect an almost idyllic picture except that...
There's a "but"
There's always a "but", and that's normal, but it's almost out of place with the Rigiflex CAP 360 since it wasn't originally designed and engineered for fishing. Even if other fishermen, like me, turn it away from its primary use, the only criticism I can make of this boat is its lack of space on board, or rather its lack of ergonomics for fishing. The rods can hardly be stowed lengthwise, since they would effectively prevent access to the banks, for example. One must be a little rigorous in terms of organization and not scatter lures, especially when catching a big fish, where it quickly becomes a problem. I've often hesitated to put it on deck to save space aboard but that would have made it heavier and made it less efficient in terms of navigation and less safe...
In summary
After having thought of parting with it several times in favour of a boat designed for real fishing, I have never been able to bring myself to do so and I am not sure I will ever be able to do so, as the list of intrinsic qualities of this small boat is long. With a price of around 2000 euros, it is in my opinion one of the best quality/price ratio for those who would like to broaden their horizons and discover boat fishing in most biotopes while keeping their budget under control and keeping some money to equip their boat with all the modern electronics, making it more and more efficient. In addition, it is 100% French design and manufacture. The Rigiflex CAP 360 is almost the flawless small fishing boat, without wanting it!
The Rigiflex CAP 360
General characteristics
- Length: 3.60 m
- Width: 1.68 m
- Weight : 120 kgs
- No. of persons: 6-3 Category D-C
- Maximum power: 30 HP short shaft
- drain plug
- forward and aft mooring points
- front trunk
- double hull bi layers (polyethylene + polyethylene foam )
- galvanized motor chair
- Distribution: Rigiflex France
Standard equipment
- 1 mooring well
- 1 front trunk Starboard
- Galvanized & Wooden engine mount + Starboard engine counterplate
- 1 drain hose
- 2 handrails
- 2 swimmer supports
- 1 scull support
- 2 swim ladies
- Front and rear mooring points
- 4 plastic cleats
- 4 carrying handles
- 1 Snap cap D=23mm
